Key mechanism for musical instruments.



No. 633,9I5. Patented Sept. 26, I899. A. J. SMITH.

KEY MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

(Application filed m. 14, 1099.

(No Model.)

JA/VEA/TJR ANDREW (.7. SMITH.

UNITED STATES l rrjrnn r @rricn.

ANDREIV J. SMITH, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TOHERBERT GRISlVOLD, OF SAME PLACE.

KEY MECHANISM FOR MUSlCAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 15, dated $e13te111bel2 1899- Applioation filed March 14, 1899. Serial No. 709,005. (Nomodel.)

To all whom 5/; may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW .l. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Spring field, in the county of Sangamon and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in KeyMechanism for Musical Instruments, of which the following is such afull, clear, andexact description as will enable others skilled in theart to which it ap pertains to make and use my said invention.

My invention relates to musical instru ments of that classsuch aspianos, organs, &c.- which have keys which may be manipulated to producevarious musical notes.

The purposes of my invention are to provide simple and effective meansto prevent sticking of the keys and to provide means whereby theaccumulation of dirt within the instrument may be avoided.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction and combinations of parts shown in the annexed drawings,to which reference is hereby made, and hereinafter described, andpointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the completemechanism. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a part of the guiderail carryingthe guides or eyes in which the guide-pins work. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection through the guide-rail on the line 3 3 of Fig.

2. Fig. 4: is a vertical transverse section through one of the keys onthe line 4 a of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a horizontal transverse sectionthrough one of the guide-pins on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, lookingdownward, and shows in top plan one of the eyes or guides in which theguide-pins work.

Similar letters of reference designate like parts in all of the views.

In the drawings I have shown only one key, it being understood thatthere are a number of keys, all exactly alike and arranged side by side.

In order that the nature of my invention may be clearly understood, Iwill state that prior to my invention of the improvements hereindescribed the common practice has been to guide the keys by means ofvertical guide-pins immovably secured to a rail underlying the keys nearthe front end thereof, the upwardly-projecting ends of the pin fittingin longitudinal felt-lined mortises in the lower part of the keys. Thekeys being commonly made of pine or other light and porous wood, it isfound in practice that when exposed to moisture the wood swells, therebycontracting the mortises in the keys to such extent as to cause the pinsto bind in the mortises, and thereby prevent free movement of the keys.One of the main purposes of my invention is to overcome this dilliculty,and I accomplish this result by securing the guidepins rigidly on thekeys and forming the eyes in which the guide-pins work on a sill or railof metal or other non-porous or non-absorbent material which will notswell when exposed to moisture.

The guide-rail A, the center rail 13, and the rear rail D are supportedon and suitably secured to two or more sills C, transverse to theinstrument in which the key mechanism is employed. Vertical pins B, onefor each key, are secured at suitable distances apart on the center rail13. A felt washer B surrounds each of the pins B". A longitudinal feltcushion D is cemented or otherwise secured on the upper surface of therear rail D.

The boxshaped guide-rail A is made of metal or hard rubber or indnratedfiber or other material which will not swell to a deleterious extentwhen exposed to moisture.

yielding and sound-deadening material, are

cemented or otherwise suitably secured to the side walls of the openingsa.

In order to prevent the accumulation of dirt on the rail A, it is madeforaminous, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. lhe precise form of the openingsin the rail is immaterial, and

they may be made of any form adapted to lighten the rail without undulyim 'iairing its strength.

The key proper, E, is preferably of pine or other light wood. A fingerplate E, of ivory or othersuitable material, is suitably secured to thekey E.

The guide-pin is preferably in crossseo tion elliptical in form and fora part of its length is-preferably screw-threaded, as at c, and screwsinto the key E.

The pin E is made of elliptical cross-section, as described, in orderthat when the felt linings a in the eyes a become worn to such ex tentas to permit undue lateral motion of the pins in the eyes the pins maybe turned slightly, so as to compensate for the wear,an d thus obviatethe necessity for replacement of the felt lining a.

I do not confine my claim to a pin of elliptical cross-section,since itis obvious that pins of any other form of which the cross-section is acurve having a major and a minor axis may be used. Neither do I confinemy claim to a screw-threaded pin, since it is obvious that other meansmaybe employed for turnably connecting the pin with the key. It isessential only that the pin shall be turnable and that it shall be ofsuch form that when turned the transverse measurement of the pin shallproperly correspond to the trans verse distance across the eye in whichthe pin slides.

A 'felt washer E surrounds the pin E and is secured to the under side ofthe key It.

'When the key is depressed, the washer abuts against the upper surfaceof the boss A.

An adjustingpin F screws into the key E. The key E is pierced betweenits extremities by a vertical slot 0, (shown in. dotted lines Fig. 1,)through which the pin 13 passes. The slot e is longer at the top than atthe bottom in order that the key may oscillate freely on the washer 13without striking against the pin.

A suitable number of suitably placed weights E", of lead or other heavymaterial, serve to balance the key in such manner as to make it properlyresponsive to the touch of the person performing on the instrument.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In key mechanism for musical instruments, the herein-describedbox-shaped foraminatcd guide-rail provided with bosses having eyesbushed with sound-deadening material, in combination with oscillativekeys and oval pins on said keys registering with and turnable fortransverseadjustment in the eyes of said guide-rail, as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name, at Springfield,Illinois, this 8th day of March, 1899.

ANDREW J. SMITH.

Witnesses:

FRANK HUDsoN, T. O. llIAlHER.

